Time to face the Music! (Part 1)
Time to face the Music! (Part 1)
Saraswati saw the fire burning in the normally placid gaze of her colleague. They were a small unit but that made the unspoken bond even stronger. On surface, most of them seemed cold and indifferent but that was probably an effective façade to cover the intensity of their feelings.
She sighed and ran her gaze across the hall, falling finally on the large bag which Mriga had brought there. Walking upto it, she rummaged through the contents and a smile spread across her face. This girl was really thoughtful.
Mriga left the Admin building and went to the boys' dorm. She wanted to drop a message for Abhirath about the change in plans. After writing a note quickly, she left it in the pigeonhole assigned to each student at the entrance of the hostel.
Dusk was about to set in and she knew that Yash would have finished his duties for the day. She went to the Accounting department and sent a message in to him through a fellow student.
Yash was in a bad mood when a junior came and informed him about Mriga waiting for him outside. He was surprised and happily so. This was the first time that she had sought him on her own to patch up. Straightening his clothes, he bid farewell to the students and teachers around before stepping out to the foyer where she stood waiting.
Mriga's gaze was focused towards the setting sun and her side profile made an enchanting picture. Yash stood there admiring her for a bit before clearing his throat to get her attention.
"Oh! Hey, you are here. Are you done with your work for the day?" she asked him softly.
He didn't say anything except, "Let's go."
Mriga also followed suit and walked along. By silent agreement, they started walking towards the path which they normally took for their evening strolls.
"I am sorry. I shouldn't have called Abhirath my fiancé even if there was an emergency," she stated softly.
He exhaled and said, "Even I overreacted and I am sorry too. You know why I did so though, right? I hate seeing any other guy around you, howsoever harmless he may be. It is just in that moment I can't handle it. Maybe a part of me feels…"
"Hey! What a coincidence? I was just coming to look for you," said Vindhya with an exclaim.
Yash's statement hung in the air as he turned to look at Vindhya, standing alongside her friend.
Giving them a brief smile, he asked politely, "Why were you looking for me?"
He could feel Mriga's curious gaze move from one to another but knew that Vindhya won't do anything to jeopardise his situation.
Before Vindhya could say something, Gauri spoke up excitedly.
"Vindhya's mother has sent a box full of goodies for you which include Till ki chikki* and the yummy custard apples which are available only in the Western zilla during autumn season. Since your Southern zilla weather is always hot, you can get a chance to enjoy these here. Though, I wonder why have you been singled out for the special treatment. Aunty didn't send any for me," she said with a wink.
After coming back from Ujjwala's party that night, Vindhya had 'accidentally' told Gauri about the impending engagement between the two families. Immediately though, she had asked her to not utter a word about it to anyone, knowing fully that Gauri won't be able to hold her tongue back.
Mriga stared at Vindhya's blushing face and then at Yash's embarrassed one.
Unable to hold back, she asked him testily, "Yes, tell us Yash. Why the special treatment towards you?"
Till now, Vindhya had pretended that she hadn't seen Mriga standing there. But now, she directed her beautiful eyes towards her. There seemed to be a hint of condescension alongwith suppressed laughter in her glance or was Mriga over imagining it?
"I… err…" he started uncertainly.
Not even for a second had he thought that Gauri would say something provocative like this. He didn't want to out rightly lie nor did he dare tell her the truth fearing misunderstanding at this point.
"Please don't take my friend's words seriously. Yash's family and mine have been close friends for a really long time and hence my mother sent a few things for him," Vindhya said in the utmost gentle voice to Mriga.
Turning her understanding gaze towards Yash, she said, "Since the box is heavy, I will send it across with someone to your room, later. Wishing you both a very good evening."
Yash looked at Vindhya with relief in his eyes. He inclined his head in gratitude towards her and murmured his farewell.
Vindhya allowed herself a satisfied smile once she left the soon to be ex-lovers. Her presence in front of them, hadn't been accidental. She had seen them from the window of her lab as they passed her by. She had run to get Gauri and used the excuse which she had otherwise kept to employ later to meet him.
Few metres away
Mriga swung her eyes sideways to look at Yash. She drew in a deep breath and told him that she wanted to walk outside the Gurukul's gate. Yash was a little surprised at her words but complied nonetheless.
"What is going on, Yash?" Mriga spun on her heels as soon as they were slightly away from the Gurukul's entrance.
He looked at her in confusion and murmured, "I don't understand. What are you referring to?"
*Til ki Chikki - A sweet made with Sesame and Jaggery